Suzanne Paulins Takes the Helm: Swimming Canada Welcomes New Era with Permanent CEO Appointment

Source: Swimming Canada

OTTAWA – Suzanne Paulins will maintain her position as the leading executive of Swimming Canada.

On Wednesday, President Susan Owen announced to employees and significant partners that Paulins has taken on the permanent position of Chief Executive Officer.

“We are thrilled to announce that Suzanne Paulins has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Suzanne’s commitment and insight as a leader, Level 5 official, and swim parent will guarantee the stewardship of Swimming Canada throughout the next quad,” Owen stated. “I personally value Suzanne’s professionalism and her dedication to the team atmosphere. Under Suzanne’s guidance, I am confident that Swimming Canada’s future is exceedingly bright.”

Since May 2023, Paulins had acted as CEO, stepping up during Ahmed El-Awadi’s personal absence. El-Awadi departed from the organization in November 2024. Paulins joined the organization in 2017 as Senior Manager of Domestic Operations and advanced to the role of Operations and Sport Development Director in 2021 before assuming the acting CEO position. She is now equipped with a clear directive to drive the organization’s quest for swimming excellence outlined in the Strategic Plan 2021-2028 and to formulate the subsequent strategic plan.

“I am grateful for the trust the board has placed in me and for the individuals I’ve had the privilege to collaborate with. For me, it’s all about the people: the provincial organizations, the coaches, the athletes, the staff, officials, and volunteers all working in unison to achieve excellence across all levels of the organization,” Paulins remarked.

With over 45 years of involvement in the sport, Paulins has served as a master official, FINA List referee, and Technical Official at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games. Prior to her tenure at Swimming Canada, she spent two decades at the Bank of Montreal, where she held various roles including Financial Services Manager, Bank Manager, and Human Resources Strategic Initiatives Manager.

In her capacity as acting CEO, she has established leadership competencies and succession planning, guiding Swimming Canada through a successful Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The organization encountered numerous obstacles, including last year’s relocation of the Olympic & Paralympic Swimming Trials, presented by Bell. With slightly more than a month to adapt to the closure of Montreal’s Olympic Pool due to fire damage, Paulins took pride in the decision to shift to Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, prioritizing the athletes.

“The athletes were seeking that change and we listened,” Paulins expressed. “That necessity to connect and ensure that we heed all significant voices in our community has definitely been a focus. We’ve been collaborating as a team for the past two years, and now we’re going to build on that and keep advancing.”

“I’m extremely pleased to have Suzanne as our full-time permanent CEO for Swimming Canada,” declared three-time Olympian Javier Acevedo, co-chair of the High Performance Athlete Advisory Council. “She has been an exceptional leader in our sport for many years, communicates with athletes, and consistently considers athletes’ needs at the core of every discussion. It facilitates performance and achievement for athletes, and I’m certain that coaches and officials will concur that it’s fantastic to have a leader who is invested in our sport at every level.”

Residing in Brantford, Ont., Paulins lives with her husband Ray. The couple has three children – Beth, 31, Alex, 29, and Sebastian, 26 – who all remain engaged in the sport.

Paulins began her journey as a swimmer for the Trenton (Ont.) Dolphins and later worked as a summer intern at Swim Ontario. She joined the Brantford Aquatic Club as a Meet Manager in 2001 when her children commenced competitive swimming, eventually serving as club president from 2007 to 2015. During this period, Paulins was also a board member at Swim Ontario and spearheaded the development of the 2020 Swim Ontario Strategic Plan. In 2015, she was appointed Vice-President of Swim Ontario.
Paulins emphasized the numerous essential partnerships that will be pivotal to Swimming Canada’s ongoing success.

“We are grateful for the support from all our partners, including Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, and Own the Podium, as well as the athlete advisory council, the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association, provincial sections, and our corporate sponsors,” Paulins stated. “To me, it continually comes back to the individuals, both in and out of the water.”